To wait for plants or start cycling now

The only thing is I plan to do a fully planted tank and can't get my plants for about 10-14 days.

Would it be OK to get the sand, wood and equipment in my tank to start cycling right away so that when I have my plants there is already some bacteria beginning to build up, or would you advise waiting till I get plants to start the tank?

I wanted fish in my new tank right away and used some female Guppies to cycle it. Any hardy fish will do, like Platys and Swordtails if you like livebearing fish and Rasboras, most of the Barb species, White cloud minnows and Danios if you prefer the egglayers. All are colorful and hardy and will easily tolerate the changes in water conditions that take place during the nitrogen cycle. As for plants, they will help, especially floaters like Pennywort, Anacharis, Bananas, Anaubias or Hornwort. You can put them in later. Cycling with fish means testing the water daily for traces of ammonia or nitrite and feed a little every day or two. If you have a positive test for either of these forms of nitrogen remove 25 percent of the tank water and replace it with treated tap water. Just test daily and remove the water when needed. In a month or so, the tank is cycled with no harm to the fish.

Waiting for the fish really isn't necessary. But, it's your choice as the keeper of the tank water.

I wanted fish in my new tank right away and used some female Guppies to cycle it. Any hardy fish will do, like Platys and Swordtails if you like livebearing fish and Rasboras, most of the Barb species, White cloud minnows and Danios if you prefer the egglayers. All are colorful and hardy and will easily tolerate the changes in water conditions that take place during the nitrogen cycle. As for plants, they will help, especially floaters like Pennywort, Anacharis, Bananas, Anaubias or Hornwort. You can put them in later. Cycling with fish means testing the water daily for traces of ammonia or nitrite and feed a little every day or two. If you have a positive test for either of these forms of nitrogen remove 25 percent of the tank water and replace it with treated tap water. Just test daily and remove the water when needed. In a month or so, the tank is cycled with no harm to the fish.

Waiting for the fish really isn't necessary. But, it's your choice as the keeper of the tank water.

Good luck and have fun!

Old

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Thanks for the reply Old.
To be honest I'm OK with doing a fishless cycle. I don't want guppies, Platys, etc. long term so don't mind waiting it out with a fishless cycle.

But I am keen to get going ASAP so was just checking I am OK to introduce plants mid cycle or if it is best to plant them day 1.

I'm keen to get started so think I'll get everything up and running tonight (except plants)

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